#HowIWillChange shows men taking responsibility for their contribution to our current culture

For the past few days, the #MeToo social media campaign has brought forth stories from hundreds of thousands of women about being sexually harassed, assaulted, and coerced. The campaign has brought to light how deeply ubiquitous this matter really is for all of us, beyond the dozens of victims of Harvey Weinstein’s lecherous abuse in Hollywood.

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One male Twitter user was inspired by the campaign to create a hashtag of his own for men to use: #HowIWillChange.

The onus of sexual assault always manages to fall squarely on the victims themselves. “Why didn’t you report it?” and “Why are you speaking out now?” are questions phrased in such a way that they relieve the perpetrating men of all responsibility. It’s a completely fucked up way of responding to a survivor of sexual assault. The #MeToo campaign did seem to hit home with some men, however, evidenced by #HowIWillChange.

Guys, it's our turn.

After yesterday's endless #MeToo stories of women being abused, assaulted and harassed, today we say #HowIWillChange.

— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017

Television writer Benjamin Law started the hashtag earlier this week, and it’s since garnered thousands of responses. He listed a variety of ways men can support women: donating to a women’s shelter, reporting known abusers, and recognizing yourself as complicit when you don’t speak out against the latter.

#HowIWillChange: I'll do all this without expecting to be congratulated or praised since women do the heavy lifting every other fucking day.

— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) October 16, 2017

Other men quickly joined in and pledged to step up and change themselves.

I will call out other men on sexism. I won’t be complacent with the status quo. I won’t allow another man to harass a woman. #HowIWillChange

— RedBeard (@PhilRedbeard) October 18, 2017

I will never blame a victim, and I will never stand and watch as a man makes unwanted advances on a woman #HowIWillChange

— Michael (@TrippyTrappy_Jr) October 17, 2017

#HowIWillChange? Never accept the diversion tactics of abusers. Never enable, even passively, the behaviors that lead to this.

— Alex Soul Rots☠️ (@solwat) October 16, 2017

#HowIWillChange: I will confront anyone who make sexist statement about women even as silly jokes.

— Fabian Haquin (@inj4ll) October 18, 2017

#HowIWillChange I'm going to call out harassment, every time. I'll call out toxic masculinity, every time. No more going along to get along.

— Ben Jackson (@DadoftheDecade) October 18, 2017

#HowIWillChange: I will listen to women more closely, seeking to understand before seeking to be understood. Then, if it helps, I will act. https://t.co/LF4cjbJHwe

— Andrew Webster (@web_stirs) October 16, 2017

#HowIWillChange realizing the "harmless" actions of my friends when we're out at bars, clubs, or festivals isn't so harmless after all.

— Brandon Louis (@brad_lee21) October 17, 2017

I will intervene when I hear "locker room talk" until a time when "boys will be boys" is not an excuse, but an insult.#HowIWillChange

— tolchuk (@tolchuk) October 17, 2017

Always remember the standard I walk past is the standard I accept. I'm not going to walk past. #HowIWillChange

— Justin WoOoOolley (@Woollz) October 17, 2017

Men like director Kevin Smith, who was one of the first men in Hollywood to take action against the rampant sexual abuse in his industry, are also stepping up to the plate. Recently announced he’d be donating any profit he makes from his own Weinstein-produced films to help advance the careers of women in film.

While we have a long way to go when it comes to men adequately stepping up and taking responsibility for their own actions or complicity, it feels good to see many coming out of the shadows and being bold and withstanding in support.

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